On the 8th of October 2014, the ETF Railway Section organised a picket line in Luxembourg in front of the building where the Transport Ministers of the European Union were having an “orientation debate” on the political pillar of the 4th Railway Package.
More than 120 trade union activists coming from Luxembourg, France, Belgium and Germany stood together to make the voice of the European railway workers heard and send a clear message to the Council of Ministers of Transport: “No to the Commission proposals on the political pillar of the 4th Railway Package!”
Contrary to what the European Commission proposes, the ETF calls indeed to keep the possibility of direct awarding public rail passengers’ services contracts, to reject the proposal on market opening for rail passenger transport and does not accept the introduction of rules that will lead to a further destruction of integrated railway companies.
The ETF is also of the opinion that there is no need for amending the existing legislation on the “Public Service Obligation” (Regulation 1370/2007), which is still in transition period and not fully implemented by the Member States.
The Transport State Secretary from Luxembourg visited the ETF picket line and addressed the workers saying that the concerns will be taken into account.
The State Secretary also received a petition summarising the ETF position and promised to distribute it also to the other 27 delegations.
You can download pictures from the ETF action in Luxembourg here.
